Electrode holder



Jan. 9, 1940. L. w. WEEKS ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed May 24, 1938 lumen 10):

flllorn e Patented Jan. .9, 1940 ELECTRODE nomna Lloyd W. Weeks, Inglewood, CaliL, assignor of one-fourth to Charles F. Briscoe and onefonrth to Fred Nelson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 24, 1938, .Serial 'No. 209,681

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrode holders for use in electric welding, and is particularly concerned with improvements in holders of the jaw type, i. e. in which the welding electrode or rod is retained between jaws extending longitudinally beyond the handle of the tool.

The present holder may be described generally as comprising a hollow handle made of suitable insulating material, and a pair of jaws extending forwardly of the handle and adapted to be spread by relative movement laterally of the handle axis. One of my primary objects is to provide within the handle and concealed from exposure to flying metal, suitable means, preferably in the form of a coil spring, for exerting a jaw closing force. Another important object is to provide a type of connection between the jaws to adapt them to the endwise application of closing force by the handle contained spring. Other features of the invention have to do more particularly with features of construction whereby the holder may be cheaply manufactured with a minimum number of parts which may be readily and easily assembled.

In the preferred forms of the invention, one of the jaws is formed integrally with a shank extending longitudinally within the handle. The other (movable) jaw is connected with a jaw spreading lever and with the shank in a manner causing the jaw to move longitudinally toward the handle as the jaw opens, and to compress the Spring contained in the handle. In this manner I obtain an eflicient leverage in applying the spring force to the jaw, andin so doing keep the parts in very compact and simple arrangement. An annular member movable longitudinally in the shank transmits the spring force to the jaw and serves also to provide a closure for the inner end of the handle to guard 40 the spring against contact by hot metal particles.

The above mentioned objects, as well as additional features and details, will be more fully understood from the following description of certain typical and illustrative forms of the invenr tion as shown in the accompanying drawing. In

the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing one form of holder embodying the invention, the tubular handle ap-' pearing in longitudinal section and the Jaws in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.1 showing the jaws Spread; v

Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a variational form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line l4 of Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 5 is a section on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle COHlDl'irGS a l hollow tube Ill made of suitable insulating material such as Bakelite or the like. Extending forwardly of the handle is a pair of jaws II and I2, the latter of which is longitudinally recessed at I3 and is provided with a series of teeth or 10 serrations II at opposite sides of the recess. In closed position, the jaw I I, being narrower than jaw I2, closes into engagement with the outer end of recess I3. By spreading the jaws, the welding rod or electrode may be inserted trans- 1| versely between them so as to be held by jaw II against the serrated edges I4 of the other jaw.

Jaw I2 is integral with a shank I5 extending centrally within the handle I0 and threaded at I I6 into a block I1 having a socket I8 which receives the end of the cable I9 through which current is supplied to the electrode. The body of block I1 is spaced at 20 from the handle, and is provided with end flanges 2| of polygonal cross 25 section, the flattened corners 22 of the flanges being received within longitudinally extending shallow grooves 23 in the-inner surface of the handle, to prevent rotation of thelatter. As will be understood, electric current flows from 30 cable I9 through the block I1, shank I5 and jaw I2 to the welding electrode held between the Jaws.

The jaws are operated by a lever 24 having an insulation covered handle 25 and a yoke 35 26 straddling the jaw II and pivotally connected to jaw I2 by a pin 21 extending transversely through the shank end of the jaw, see Fig. 4. The yoke 26 also is pivotally attached to Jaw II at a point forwardly of the pin 21 by means 40 of pin 28. The inner end of jaw II is slotted at 29 to provide clearance between the jaw and the curved portion of shank I5 at the inner end of jaw I2. By pivotally connecting the yoke to both jaws and offsetting pin 28 forwardly with 5 respect to pin 21, the jaws are caused to move relatively longitudinally upon spreading, i. e. as Jaw II is swung open, it is at" the same time shifted longitudinally toward the handle III.

The capacity for longitudinal movement thus 5 given jaw II permits the application of closing force to the jaw by a spring contained within the handle Ill. The inner tapered end Ila of the law bears against a sleeve or ring 30 which is pressed against the jaw by coil spring 3| enclrcling the shank IS. The outer surface. of ring 30 is shaped as illustrated to provide shoulders 32 at the point of engagement with the jaw, and the ring is movable longitudinally of the shaft to permit movement of the jaw between open and closed positions. The spring compression is adjustable by nut 33 threaded on the shank and engaged by a metal washer 34. Fiber washers 35 and 36 insulate the spring from the current flow through the shank.

By pressing lever 24 toward the handle l0, jaw II is opened to the position of Fig. 2, moving ring 30 along the shank and compressing spring 3|. After the electrode is inserted between the jaws, the spring continues to exert a closing force against jaw I i to securely hold the electrode. By reason of the leverage efliciency in the yoke connection between the jaws, it is possible to use a strong spring which will cause the jaw to tightly and securely hold the electrode. It may be mentioned that the ring 30 has a further function in that it provides a closure for the handle bore, preventing hot metal particles from entering the handle and contacting the spring. By thus keeping the spring fully protected and housed within the handle, the spring tension may be maintained indefinitely, a feature of particular importance in view of the conditions under which holders of this type are used.

' The holder shown in Fig. 3 is similar in all respects to the previously described form of the invention, except as to the connection between the operating lever and the jaws. In the variational form, the lever 38 extends through slot 38 formed centrally within jaw II from its inner end, see Fig. 5, and into slot 40 within the shank end of jaw l2, pivotally connected to the jaws 'by pins 4i and 42. Lever 38 imparts to the jaws the same type of movement as in the first de-' scribed form, pin 4| being set forward with relation to pin 42, so that jaw ll opens by movement against the ring 30 to compress the spring.

I claim:

1. In an electrode holder oi! the character described, the combination comprising a hollow handle, a pair of jaws extending forwardly of scribed, the combination comprising a hollow handle, a pair of jaws extending forwardly of the handleand adapted to be spread apart laterally and at the same time to be moved relatively longitudinally of the handle axis, means or the jaw.

- in the handle, a coil spring encircling said shank within the handle for closing one or the jaws against the other, and, means for opening and moving the jaws relatively longitudinally so that one 01' the jaws compresses said spring.

4. In an electrode holder of the character described, the combination comprising a hollow handle, a pair of jaws extending forwardly of the handle and adapted to be spread apart laterally of the handle axis, a conductor shank integral with one of said jaws and extending 10m gitudinally within the handle, jaw spreading means pivotally connected to said shank and to the other jaw so that in opening, the last mentioned jaw moves longitudinally of the shank toward the handle, and a coil spring surrounding said shank within the handle and resisting such movement of the jaw.

5. In an electrode holder 01 the character described, the combination comprising a hollow handle, a minor jaws extending forwardly of the handle and adapted to be spread apart laterally of the handle axis, a conductor shank integral with one of said jaws and extending longitudinally within the handle, jaw spreading means pivotally connected to said shank and to the other jaw so that in opening, the last mentioned; jaw moves longitudinally of the shank toward the handle, a ring movable longitudinally on said shank and engaging the inner end of the movable jaw, and a coil spring surrounding the shank within the handle and, pressing said ringinto engagenent with the jaw to resist its opening movemen I 6. In an electrode holder of the character described, the combination comprising a hollow handle, a pair of jaws extending forwardly of the handle and adapted to be spread apart laterally or the handle axis, a conductor-shank integral with one of said jaws and extending longitudinally within the. handle, a jaw spreading lever extending opposite said handle and having :a yoke portion pivotally connected to said. shank and to the other jaw so that in opening, the last mentioned jaw moves longitudinally of the shank toward the handle, and a coil spring surrounding said shank within the handle and resisting such movement w. wnaxs. 

